Signal-flag holder.



E. S. REAGAN. SIGNAL FLAG HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED PBBA, 1909.

Patented 0ct.4,1910.

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EDWARD S. REAGAN, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA, AS SIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOHARRY T. BURKETT, OF BLUEKNOB, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNAL-FLAG HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 4, 1909.

Patented Get. at, 1910.

Serial No. 476.017.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. REAGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-FlagHolders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved signal-flag holder speciallydesigned as a protective holder for the signal flags with whichlocomotives are usually equipped for signaling purposes.

Ordinarily, a locomotive is generally equipped with two signal flagsused in different classes of service and which are now kept in thelocomotive cab or tender bulkhead. These flags are frequently misplaced,lost or torn. with the result of causing annoyance and inconvenience,and it is the purpose of the present invention to provide a flag holdingdevice mounted in a suitable position upon the locomotive, and providing-1neans for completely housing a plurality of signal flags when not inuse, and also for holding such flags in operative signaling positionsimply tl'irough the adjustment of the holding device.

lVith these and many other objects in view which will readily appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists inthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated and claimed.

Vhile the essential features are susceptible to structural modification,a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure l is a top plan view of a signalflag holderembodying the present invention, and showing one of the flag carriersswung out to a signaling position for the flag, and also showing, indotted lines, the other flag carrier in its housed position within thehousing-case. Fig. 2 is a side view of the flag holder. Fig. 3 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2 illustrating one of the flag carriers locked in itsuncovered or signaling position. Fig. 4; is a projected end view of theholder with the parts thereof in the positions shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

The present invention contemplates constructing the signal flag holderso as to provide for housing and supporting the pair of signal flagswith which a locomotive is usually equipped, and to secure that result,the holder embodies in its general construction what may be properlytermed, a housing-case designated in its entirety by the numeral 1. Thishousing-case is in the form of a sheet metal box preferably ofrectangular form and provided with an open top portion designed to becovered and uncovered by a hinged lid 2. The said lid 2 is hinged at oneedge to one side of the case by means of a plurality of suitable hinges3 and the free edge thereof is designed to engage with the beveled andshouldered catch end 4 of a spring locking latch consisting of a leafspring member secured fast at one end as at 6 to the side of the boxbody opposite the side to which the lid is hinged.

In order to provide for housing a pair or plu ality of signal flags, thebox body constituting the case 1 is provided with a central longitudinalpartition 7 dividing the interior of such body into the separate flaghousing or holding compartments 8 each of which is adapted to house andreceive a separate flag. The box body is entirely closed at one end andat the opposite end, each compartment thereof is open to admit of themovement of the flag and the flag supporting means into and out of saidcompartment.

The flag supporting means arranged at the open end of each compartment,essen tially consists of a shiftable or swinging flag carrier 9 and aflag staff socket 10 mounted on and rigid with the carrier 9. The saidcarrier 9 preferably consists of an angle plate hinged at one edge as at11 to the under side of the box body, and in addition to the socket 1Othereon, the said carrier or carrier plate 9 has mounted thereon anangle plate 12 having the separate right angularly disposed members 13and 14. The member 13 is interposed between the base of the socket 10and the body of the carrier plate 9 and is rigidly fastened to thelatter through the medium of the same rivets 15 which hold the socket inplace. The said other member 14 of the plate 12 constitutes a holdingarm for the flag carrier 9, and when the latter is thrown out as shownin Fig. 3, the then upper edge of the arm 14 is adapted to be engagedbya bifurcated catch lug l6 fitted to or carried by the under side ofthe lid 2 thus providing an effective and secure lock for the flagcarrier When supporting the flag in its signaling position. To lower theflag and house the same for protective purposes, it is simply necessaryto first raise the lid and then swing the carrier with the flag throughthe open end of the compartment therefor, and into the latter, and uponthe reclosing of the lid, the open end of the compartment Will beeilectively closed by the supporting base member 13 which also acts asan end closure for the case or box.

The equipment for each compartment is the same.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, use andadvantages of the herein described flag holder, Will be apparent Withoutfurther description.

I claim 1. A flag-holder comprising a housing case, a flag carrierhinged to one end of the case, a flag-staff socket supported on the saidcarrier, and a combined supporting base and end closure also mounted onthe carrier.

2. A flag holder comprising a housingcase having a lid provided With acatch, fastening means for the lid, a flag carrier hinged to the case, aflag staff socket supported on said carrier and movable into and out ofthe case, a combined supporting base and end closure also mounted on thecarrier, and a holding arm also fitted to the carrier and engaged by thecatch on the lid.

In testimony whereof I hereunto with; my signature in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

EDXVARD S. REAGAN.

Vitnesses N. E. GEE, H. Ti BURKETT.

